Metal eyelet



March 13, 1934. H 1,951,168

METAL EYELET Filed Feb. 23, 1935 a B a, 0 Q 0 c 2 C 22] Q 9%; {QEA INVENTOR- BEMJA M/N h. /?0 TH,

ATTORNEY- Patented Mar. 13, 1934:

'UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL EYELET 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in eyelets of the metal strip type which are peculiarly adapted for use in eyeleting machines, by means of which the eyelets are inserted through sheets of paper and headed or flanged to hold the papers together.

The general object of the invention is to refine the type of eyelet as shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,071,406, dated August 26, 1913.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eyelet which may be easily headed or flanged without exerting great pressure on the handle of the eyeleting machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an eyelet which may be headed or flanged in a uniform manner and thereby insure greater strength of binding.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in forming a metal eyelet strip from a single sheet of metal and having a plurality of eyelets projecting therefrom, each of the eyelets comprising a tubular neck having one end provided with a flange and its other end provided with a plurality of separated segments capable of being easily turned over to initiate the formation of a head on the eyelet for fastening sheets of paper permanently in position.

Heretofore in using eyelets of the type shown in the above mentioned patent it was found necessary to exert great pressure on the handle of the eyeleting machine to properly upset or turn over the end of the eyelet to secure it in position. Such pressure was necessary because the end of the metal wall of the eyelet had to be first torn or broken by the machine before it could be headed. The result of such operation did not produce a headed eyelet with a neat and symmetrical finish and sometimes left metal burrs projecting from the head of the eyelet which were detrimental to its use.

By the use of my improved eyelet herein disclosed the above mentioned objectional features are eliminated and an eyelet is provided with a means whereby it may be headed in the eyeleting machine with comparative ease of operation and thus form a head with such firm, neat and symmetrical finish that sheets of paper will be permanently fastened in position.

In the accompanying drawing, in which the invention is illustrated,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the eyelets constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail vertical cross sectional view of one of the eyelets detached from the strip, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of a headed eyelet shown fastening sheets of paper in position.

Referring to the drawing in detail there is shown a plurality of eyelets A, provided with the usual flange portions B. The formation of each eyelet as a unit is similar to the formation of eyelets now in use. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and. 2, the eyelets are all connected to one another to form a continuous strip. The eyelets are connected to adjacent eyelets at the flange portions, as indicated at C, and the width or thickness of the connecting metal is such that although the eyelets will be connected to one another they will nevertheless be readily separated from one another when used, and the general continuity of the outer edge of the flange will not vary from substantially a circle.

Each of the eyelets comprises a tapered tubular neck portion or barrel D, which has its wall at the end opposite the flange B, provided with a concave flared marginal portion E. This marginal portion is provided with a plurality of slits F, which extend a slight distance down from the edge of the neck to provide a plurality of separated segments G. The segments G, due to the concave formation of the marginal portion E, are curved longitudinally. The free or upper ends of the segments G are arranged in a circle smaller than, and substantially concentric with, the upper or small end of the barrel D, and the convex sides of the segments are arranged innermost, whereby to maintain in effect the tapered formation of the barrel throughout the length of the segments, and thus prevent the segments from interfering with the passage of the eyelet through the papers to be bound together. The slits are provided and the segments are formed as described to initiate the turning or curling of the 9 segments of the eyelet, when a relative slight pressure is exerted on the handle of the eyeleting machine. By dividing the flared end of the neck into a plurality of segments, the eyelet is headed or flanged in a firm and symmetrical manner, thus securely binding sheets of paper, around the neck of the eyelet so they will be permanently fastened in position.

Having described the invention in connection with the illustrative embodiment thereof, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A metal eyelet comprising a tapered barrel provided at its large end with a flange and at its small end with a series of separated segments, said segments extending longitudinall from the barrel and adapted to be bent outwardly to provide a head for the eyelet, said segments being free of connection with each other at their side edges, having their free ends arranged in a circle smaller than and substantially concentric with the small end of the barrel, and being curved longitudinally with their convex sides innermost.

BENJAMIN H. ROTH. 

